Salient Features of Indian Constitution

The constitution of India is
lengthiest and most detailed compared to any constitutions in the world.

It originally had 395 Articles divided in to 22
parts and 9 schedules. There are 6 Fundamental Rights in the constitution.
India is a secular state meaning the state does not uphold a particular
religion on its own – Articles 25 to 28 gives shape to this secularism.

It provides for single citizenship for the whole of
India. There is no citizenship for each state.

The preamble of the constitution states India has a
Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic.

Sovereign: Country does not dependent
on any outside authority.

Socialist: Ownership of the revenues of
production and distribution by the state – insertion made through 42nt
amendment Act.

Democratic: It has the government which gets its
authority from the will of the people.

Republic: Indian democracy is based on
adult suffrage, where any person who is 18 years of age and who is otherwise
eligible has a right to vote without any discrimination on gender or religion.

Drafting
Constitution:

The
Indian constitution was drawn up by constituent assembly (established in
accordance with the Cabinet Mission
Plan) initially summoned on Dec 9 1946, under the presidentship of
Sachithanandha Sinha for undivided India. On 1st July, 1947 the
British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act to divide the country
into India and Pakistan. With partition of India the representative of East
Bengal, West Punjab, Sindh and Baluchisthan, N-W Frontier Provenience and the
Sylhet District of Assam, which joined Pakisthan, ceased to be member of
constitution assembly. On August 14 1947, the constituent assembly met again as
the Sovereign Constituent Assembly for the Territory of India under the
presidentship of Schithananda Sinha. On the demise of Schithananda Sinha
Dr.Rajendra Prasad became the president of constituent assembly. A draft
constitution was published Feb 1948. 284 out of 299 members affixed their
signature to the constitution finally adopted it on 26th Nove 1949.
It came into effect on 26th Janu 1950.

The
work started with the presentation of the ‘Objective Resolution’ moved by
Jawaharlal Nehru was adopted on Jan 22 1947. The committee for scrutinizing
draft constitution and suggesting amendments was formed Aug 29 1947. The draft
was prepared by Feb 1948. The constituent asssembly met three times to read the draft
Clause by Clause in Nov 1948, Oct 1949 and Nov 1949. After the 3rd reading,
it was signed by the Indian President and was adopted on Nov 26 1949. In fact, a Committee
on Rules of Procedure was in place as early as

Dec
1946.

The
constitution of India closely follows the British-Parliamentary model but
differs from it in 1 aspect that is, the Constitution is supreme, not
Parliament. Hence, the Indian courts are conferred with the authority to
adjudicate on the constitutionality of any law enacted by the Indian Parliament.